Bobcats Picked First by Big Sky Coaches, Media in Big Sky Preseason Football Poll
7/17/2025 12:15:00 PM | Football
MSU looks to repeat last year's championship season
BOZEMAN, Mont. (July 17, 2025) – Riding the wave of an undefeated regular season and second FCS Championship Game appearance in four years, Montana State earned the top spot in polls of Big Sky Conference coaches and media representatives, the league announced Thursday.
The Cats earned first place votes from seven of the 12 coaches and 30 of 42 media members to outdistance UC Davis (second in the coaches poll, third in the media) and Montana (voted second by the media, third by the coaches). At the other end, the coaches and media agree on Portland State (10th), Cal Poly (11th) and Northern Colorado (12th). In between, the coaches and media agreed on the teams but differed slightly on the order.
From fourth through ninth the coaches tabbed Northern Arizona, Idaho, Sacramento State, Idaho State, Weber State and Eastern Washington in order. The media flipped NAU and Idaho, Sac State and ISU, and Eastern and Weber State.
The Bobcats ran the table in the regular season in 2024, logging its second unbeaten Big Sky title in four years and its first unbeaten regular season since 1956. MSU eventually dropped the FCS Championship game to North Dakota State.
Full polls are below.
Coaches Poll
1. Montana State (7) - 117
2. UC Davis (1) - 100
3. Montana (2) - 96
4. Northern Arizona (1) - 94
5. Idaho - 81
6. Sacramento State (1) - 73
7. Idaho State - 56
8. Weber State - 55
9. Eastern Washington - 48
10. Portland State - 32
11. Cal Poly - 25
12. Northern Colorado - 15
Media Poll
1. Montana State (30) - 488
2. Montana (6) - 434
3. UC Davis (4) - 399
4. Idaho (1) - 364
5. Northern Arizona - 354
6. Sacramento State (1) - 282
7. Idaho State - 247
8. Eastern Washington - 225
9. Weber State - 192
10. Portland State - 140
11. Cal Poly - 94
12. Northern Colorado - 57
Parentheses denotes first-place vote
#GoCatsGo
The Cats earned first place votes from seven of the 12 coaches and 30 of 42 media members to outdistance UC Davis (second in the coaches poll, third in the media) and Montana (voted second by the media, third by the coaches). At the other end, the coaches and media agree on Portland State (10th), Cal Poly (11th) and Northern Colorado (12th). In between, the coaches and media agreed on the teams but differed slightly on the order.
From fourth through ninth the coaches tabbed Northern Arizona, Idaho, Sacramento State, Idaho State, Weber State and Eastern Washington in order. The media flipped NAU and Idaho, Sac State and ISU, and Eastern and Weber State.
The Bobcats ran the table in the regular season in 2024, logging its second unbeaten Big Sky title in four years and its first unbeaten regular season since 1956. MSU eventually dropped the FCS Championship game to North Dakota State.
Full polls are below.
Coaches Poll
1. Montana State (7) - 117
2. UC Davis (1) - 100
3. Montana (2) - 96
4. Northern Arizona (1) - 94
5. Idaho - 81
6. Sacramento State (1) - 73
7. Idaho State - 56
8. Weber State - 55
9. Eastern Washington - 48
10. Portland State - 32
11. Cal Poly - 25
12. Northern Colorado - 15
Media Poll
1. Montana State (30) - 488
2. Montana (6) - 434
3. UC Davis (4) - 399
4. Idaho (1) - 364
5. Northern Arizona - 354
6. Sacramento State (1) - 282
7. Idaho State - 247
8. Eastern Washington - 225
9. Weber State - 192
10. Portland State - 140
11. Cal Poly - 94
12. Northern Colorado - 57
Parentheses denotes first-place vote
#GoCatsGo
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